AOTEAROA.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 10 May 1932, Page 6

AOTEAROA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I with your permission reply to a letter that appeared in your columns on April 29 last regarding the . above, Aotearoa is the correct name of Turi’s canoe (Te Waka _ o Turi). It is more than three centuries ago that a meeting house was elected at or near Okaiawa, and the name Aotearoa was applied. This particular meeting, house lias been reconditioned four times and each time the name was always applied. I differ with your correspondent in the statement he makes that Kupe named New Zealand Aotearoa. Kupe ran away with the wife of one Hoturapa. He murdered Hoturapa out at sea and when he arrived on these shores he stayed, four years and as he had not any children by this woman, named Kuramarotini, during that time we have not any record that he named this . Dominion Aotearoa, I state emphatically that Aotearoa is the name of Turi’s-. canoe and it was Turi who named this Dominion after his arrival here. It is true that when reference is made to the canoe its name is usually abbreviated Aotea and it is a pity, for it has led to so much confusion oven to the elders of our race. As it is common practice to abbreviate names, both Maori and pakeha, and as your correspondent signed himself as W.A.Q., so I likewise follow with my signature.—l am, etc., W.T.M.